Battery connectors for implantable medical devices

ABSTRACT

Implantable medical devices that include a battery to power circuitry utilize a battery connector to electrically interconnect the battery to the circuitry. The battery connector may be mounted directly to a device housing to have the battery connector a fixed position within the device. Battery terminals of the battery are electrically connected to terminals on the battery connector, and the terminals on the battery connector are electrically connected to power terminals of the circuitry. The battery connector may include various features such as mounting grooves formed in a connector body, tapered pins to connect to power terminals on a circuit board, as well as plates to engage the battery terminals. The device housing may provide mounting features that allow the battery connector to be affixed directly to the device housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments relate to battery connectors thatinterconnect a battery and circuitry of an implantable medical device.BACKGROUND

Implantable medical devices that perform active functions such asstimulation therapy or physiological sensing utilize a battery andcircuitry that is powered by the battery. The battery and the circuitryare mounted within a housing of the implantable medical device thatisolates the circuitry from the body tissues and fluids surrounding theimplantable medical device once implanted. The battery has anode andcathode terminals that must be electrically connected to correspondinganode and cathode terminals of the circuitry during devicemanufacturing.

One manner of electrically connecting the battery and circuitry involvesincluding a battery connector that has electrical connections to boththe battery and the terminals on a circuit board that includes thecircuitry being powered. This indirect connectivity between the batteryand circuit board may provide some benefits during device manufacture.For instance, the battery connector allows the relative positions of thebattery and circuit board to be accommodated without requiring thebattery to have terminals that extend to the terminals of the circuitboard.

However, manufacturing difficulties may still arise when interconnectingthe battery and circuit board with a battery connector. For instance,since the battery connector electrically connects to both the batteryand to the circuit board, there are multiple electrical connections fora given electrical path that must align and connect correctly whichpresents a challenging manufacturing scenario. Other difficulties mayalso occur, such as attempting to bond a wire to a battery housing inorder to connect the battery housing to a circuit board, lack of supportfor such electrical conductors extending between the battery and thecircuit board, the inability to solder the battery's pins, and a lack ofstrain relief.

SUMMARY

Embodiments address these issues and others by providing a batteryconnector that affixes directly to a housing of the implantable medicaldevice to provide a fixed location of the electrical terminals of thebattery connector for connection to the battery and/or to the circuitboard. Embodiments may include various other features in relation to thebattery connector. Some embodiments may include a housing that is formedas multiple shells. Some embodiments may include a device housingdefining protrusions where the battery connector mounts to theprotrusions. Some embodiments may include a battery connector that has agroove where the groove is affixed to the device housing. Someembodiments may include a battery connector that utilizes a plate thatis in contact with a battery housing. Some embodiments may include abattery connector that includes a conductive pin that extends to connectto a power terminal of a circuit board. Features such as these andothers may additionally facilitate alignment of the pins to the circuitboard, provide compatibility for soldering to the circuit board, providestrain relief between the battery and the circuit board, and so forth.

Embodiments provide an implantable medical device that includes a firstenclosure and a circuit board fixed within the first enclosure andhaving first and second power terminals. The implantable medical devicefurther includes a second enclosure that is coupled to the firstenclosure and that comprises a first shell and a second shell that arebonded together. A battery that has a battery housing is positionedbetween the first shell and the second shell so as to be within thesecond enclosure, and the battery has battery terminal. A batteryconnector is positioned at the second enclosure and comprises a batteryconnector body that is affixed directly to the first shell and anelectrical conductor affixed directly to the battery connector body. Theelectrical conductor is electrically coupled the first power terminaland to the battery terminal.

Embodiments provide an implantable medical device that includes a devicehousing defining at least one mounting protrusion and a circuit boardfixed within the device housing and having first and second powerterminals. A battery that has a battery housing is positioned within thedevice housing and has a battery terminal. The at least one mountingprotrusion is electrically isolated from the battery terminal. A batteryconnector is positioned within the device housing and comprises abattery connector body that is affixed directly to the at least onemounting protrusion and at least one electrical conductor affixeddirectly to the battery connector body, the at least one electricalconductor being electrically coupled to the first power terminal and tothe battery terminal.

Embodiments provide an implantable medical device that includes a devicehousing and a circuit board fixed within the device housing and havingfirst and second power terminals. A battery that has a battery housingis positioned within the device housing and has a battery terminal. Abattery connector is positioned within the device housing and comprisesa battery connector body that has at least one linear groove that isaffixed directly to the device housing. At least one electricalconductor is affixed directly to the battery connector body, and the atleast one electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the firstpower terminal and to the battery terminal.

Embodiments provide an implantable medical device that includes a devicehousing and a circuit board fixed within the device housing and havingfirst and second power terminals. A battery that has a battery housingis positioned within the device housing and has a battery terminal. Abattery connector is positioned within the device housing and comprisesa battery connector body that is affixed directly to the device housing.At least one electrical conductor is affixed directly to the batteryconnector body, the at least one electrical conductor being electricallycoupled to the first power terminal and to the battery terminal. Aconductive plate is coupled to the battery connector body and is incontact with the battery housing. A second electrical conductor isaffixed directly to the battery connector body, and the secondelectrical conductor is electrically coupled to the conductive plate andto the second power terminal.

Embodiments provide an implantable medical device that includes a devicehousing and a circuit board fixed within the device housing and havingfirst and second power terminals. A battery that has a battery housingis positioned within the device housing and has a battery terminal. Abattery connector is positioned within the device housing and comprisesa battery connector body that is affixed directly to the device housing;and at least one electrical conductor affixed directly to the batteryconnector body. The at least one electrical conductor is electricallycoupled to the battery terminal and has a portion that forms aconductive pin that extends beyond the battery connector body andelectrically couples to the first power terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of an implantable medical system that mayinclude a battery connector.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a power module of an implantable medicaldevice that includes a battery connector.

FIG. 3 shows mounting protrusions of a first housing shell of a batteryenclosure.

FIG. 4 shows the battery connector example being affixed to the firsthousing shell and also electrically coupled to the battery that ispresent within the first housing shell.

FIG. 5 shows conductive bodies of the battery connector example with abattery connector body removed for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the battery connector example.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the power module to illustrate theelectrical connections of the battery connector example to the battery.

FIG. 8 shows a view of the implantable medical device example with asection of a device housing removed to illustrate the electricalconnections of the battery connector example to a circuit board.

FIG. 9 shows an enlarged perspective view of conductive pins of thebattery connector example.

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged top view of conductive pins of the batteryconnector example.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a manufacturing procedure to install thepower module example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments provide implantable medical devices with a battery connectorthat electrically interconnects a battery with circuitry of theimplantable medical devices. The battery connector may be mounteddirectly to the housing of the implantable medical device to establish afixed relationship of the battery connector to the housing.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an implantable medical system 100 thatincludes an implantable medical device 102 and one or more implantablemedical leads 104. The implantable medical device 102 may be one ofvarious types. For instance, the implantable medical device 102 may bean example of a neurostimulator such as those for deep brain, spinalcord, pelvic, or peripheral nerve sensing and/or stimulation.

This example of the implantable medical device 102 includes threesections, a circuitry enclosure section 110, a header section 112, and abattery enclosure section 114. It will be appreciated that thesesections may be modular where the header section 112 mounts to thecircuitry enclosure section 110 at a junction 120 and/or where thebattery enclosure section 114 mounts to the circuitry enclosure section110 at a junction 118. Alternatively, multiple of these sections maytogether be unitary in construction. In either case, together they forma complete device housing.

The header section 112 is affixed to or otherwise contiguous with thecircuitry enclosure section 110. In one example where the header 112 isconstructed of a polymer, the circuitry enclosure section 110 mayinclude mounting barbs to which the header section 112 is molded. Theheader section 112 includes electrical connectors positioned within oneor more lead bores 122, 124. The electrical connectors are electricallyconnected by feedthrough conductors or other electrical pathways tocircuitry present within the circuitry section 110. When a proximal endof the lead 104 is inserted into a corresponding lead bore 122, 124,electrical contacts 106 present on the lead body 108 are electricallycoupled to the electrical connectors. In this manner, signals may passbetween the circuitry within the circuitry section 110 and distalelectrodes located on a distal end of the lead 104, where conductorswithin the lead 104 carry the signals between the proximal contacts 106and the distal electrodes.

The battery enclosure section 114 is also affixed to or otherwisecontiguous with the circuitry enclosure section 110. As discussed inmore detail below, according to this example, the battery enclosure 114and the circuitry enclosure 110 may be constructed of metal such as butnot limited to titanium, titanium alloys including grade 5 and grade 23,stainless steel including type 316, and the like and may be weldedtogether at the junction 118. The battery enclosure section 114 includesthe battery as well as any isolation materials that may be included toisolate the battery from the walls of the battery enclosure section 114,especially where the walls of the battery enclosure section 114 areconductive and it is not intended for the battery enclosure section 114to be directly electrically connected to the battery.

The circuitry enclosure section 110 houses the electrical circuitryincluding circuit boards and the like necessary to provide theelectrical functions of the implantable medical device 102. Thecircuitry may include a stimulation engine capable of producingstimulation pulses. The circuitry 114 may also or alternatively includea sensing circuit capable of receiving physiological signals.

The circuitry enclosure section 110 may be constructed of variousmaterials such as may be constructed of metal such as but not limited totitanium, titanium alloys including grade 5 and grade 23, stainlesssteel including type 316, and the like. When the circuitry enclosuresection 110 is metal or otherwise electrically conductive, the circuitryhoused within the circuitry enclosure section 110 is separated from thewalls of the circuitry enclosure section such as by non-conductiveregions of the circuit board.

The circuitry enclosure section 110 may include various additionalpanels and coverings that allow access to internal portions of thecircuitry enclosure section 110 during the manufacturing of theimplantable medical device. For example, a panel 116 may be added afterthe electrical components are properly connected between the batteryenclosure and circuitry enclosure sections. A similar panel may beprovided on the header section 112 to allow access to the electricalcomponents of the header section 112 during manufacturing. Additionally,a similar panel may be provided on the opposite side of the circuitryenclosure section 110 where such a panel provides access to a circuitboard of the circuitry enclosure section 110 that is discussed in moredetail below in relation to FIGS. 8 and 11. For any of these panels thatcontacts electrical conductors, the panel may be constructed of anon-conductive material, such as being formed from liquid siliconrubber. For any panels that do not contact electrical conductors, thepanel may be constructed of a metal and then welded into position.

FIG. 2 shows the battery enclosure section 114 to better illustrate thecomponents. The battery enclosure section 114 of this example 114includes first shell 204 and a second shell 202 that are joined togetherat a seam 206 to form the complete battery enclosure. A battery housing210 that forms that outer surface of the battery 209 is present withinthe battery enclosure section 114 and may be positioned within anisolation cup constructed of a non-conductive material where the batteryhousing 210 is not electrically coupled to the battery enclosure 114. Abattery connector 208 is also included and is electrically connected tothe battery 209 while being affixed directly to the battery enclosure114. FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the portion of the batteryenclosure section 114 where the battery connector 208 is located.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the first shell 204. In this example,the first shell 204 includes mounting features that allow the batteryconnector 208 to be directly affixed to the shell 204. In thisparticular example, the mounting features are mounting protrusions 214,216 that extend from the first shell 204. As discussed below, thebattery connector 208 may include a connector body that includesfeatures that mate to the mounting protrusions 214, 216. While twoprotrusions are shown in this example as the mounting features, it willbe appreciated that any number of protrusions may be utilized to achievethe fixation of the battery connector 208 and the shape and size of theprotrusions may vary from those shown.

FIG. 3 also shows a shelf 212 present around the periphery. Thecircuitry enclosure 110 may include an edge that rests on the shelf 212,and a weld may then affix the circuitry enclosure 110 to the shelf 212to thereby fix the position of the circuitry enclosure 110 relative tothe shelf 212 and therefore also to the battery connector 208.

FIG. 4 shows the enlarged view of the first shell 204 once the batteryconnector 208 and the battery housing 210 have been installed. This viewalso shows that an isolation cup 211 is present on the battery housing210 where half of the isolation cup 211 is present in the first shell204 as shown in FIG. 4 while the other half is not shown but is presentin the second shell 206. While the isolation cup 211 isolates thebattery housing 210 from the shells 204, 206, the surface of the batteryhousing 210 that faces the battery connector 208 remains exposed. Asdiscussed above, the isolation cup 211 may be present to electricallyisolate the battery housing 210 from the battery enclosure 114 (FIG. 2)where the battery enclosure 114 is constructed of a conductive materialbut is not intended to be directly electrically connected to the batteryhousing 210. The isolation cup may be constructed of materials such asbut not limited to polyimide, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), silicone,nylon, and the like.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the battery connector 208 includes anon-conductive connector body 220 which may be constructed of variousrigid non-conductive materials such as but not limited topolyetherimide, PEEK, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polysulfone (PSU)and the like. In this example, multiple electrical conductors that passthrough and are held in position by the connector body 220 include afirst a conductive plate 222 coupled to a first conductive pin 226 and asecond conductive plate 224 coupled to a second conductive pin 228. Theconnector body 220 thereby provides mechanical support for theses pins226, 228 and plates 222, 224. The configuration and relative spacing ofthe pins 226, 228 and plates 222, 224 of this example can be seen inFIG. 5, where the connector body 220 is omitted for purposes ofillustration.

In this example, both the plate and conductor pairings are present toprovide electrical connectivity of both the cathode and anode terminalsof the battery 209, where the battery housing 210 acts as one terminaland a battery terminal pin 218 acts as the other terminal. The batteryhousing 210 is electrically coupled to the conductive plate 222 and pin226 while the battery pin 218 is electrically coupled to the conductiveplate 224 and pin 228. The pin 218 may be welded to the plate 224 whilethe plate 222 may be welded to the battery housing 210.

Often, a battery 209 may have large tolerances for size and the specificposition of the terminal pin 218. The presence of the battery connector208 accounts for this variation in battery size as the battery terminalpin 218 does not need to directly engage a precise location of a powerterminal on the circuit board of the circuitry enclosure section 110.Likewise, an additional conductor need not be added, either directly orindirectly to the battery, to extend from the housing 210 to a preciselocation of a terminal on the circuit board. Instead, the plate 224 iscapable of receiving the pin 218 while the plate 222 achieves contactwith the battery housing 210 even with variations in battery size, andthe pins 226, 228 will already be in the proper position for engagingthe power terminals of the circuit board. This connection of the pins226, 228 to the circuit board is discussed in more detail below withreference to FIG. 8. Because of the length of the pins and therelatively compliant polymer construction of the body 220, theelectrical connector also offers some strain relief between any movementof the battery 209 relative to the circuit board.

FIG. 4 also shows grooves 230 and 232 present within the connector body208. These grooves 230, 232 may receive the corresponding mountingprotrusions 214, 216 of the first shell 204 to affix the batteryconnector 208 to the first shell 204 and ultimately to the completebattery enclosure section 114. While the two grooves 230, 232 are shown,it will be appreciated that any number of grooves may be present tocorrespond to the number of mounting protrusions present on the batteryenclosure section 114, and specifically on the first shell 204 of thisexample.

The opposite view of the battery connector 208 is shown in FIG. 6 toillustrate that the grooves 230, 232 also include stops 236, 238respectively. These stops 236, 238 set the position of the batteryconnector 208 relative to the first shell 204 by limiting the amount ofingress of the mounting protrusions 214, 216 into the grooves 230, 232.FIG. 6 also illustrates that the connector body 220 includes a valley234 that allows the batter terminal pin 218 to easily pass through andreach the conductive plate 224.

The plates 222, 224 and pins 226, 228 may be constructed of variousmaterials. The plates 222, 224 and pins 226, 228 conduct electricalcurrent sourced by the battery 209 and therefore are constructed ofconductive materials or are coated in a conductive material. Examples ofsuitable conductive materials for the plates 222, 224 and pins 226, 228or coatings thereon include but are not limited to titanium, titaniumalloys, niobium, and the like.

Conversely, the connector body 220 electrically isolates the conductiveplate 222 and associated pin 226 from the conductive plate 224 andassociated pin 228 as well as isolating the conductive plates 222, 224and pins 226, 228 from the shell 204 to which the connector body 220 isattached. One manner of constructing the battery connector 208 is tomold the connector body 220 onto the pins 226, 228 and atop the plate222 while molding underneath the plate 224 to thereby provide theconnector body 220 between the plates 222, 224. Additionally, theconnector body 220 may be over-molded directly onto the mountingfeatures of the first shell 204 rather than sliding the body 220 ontothe mounting features. Furthermore, the connector body 220 may beover-molded onto metal plates that are then welded to the mountingfeatures of the first shell 204.

FIG. 8 shows the implantable medical device 102 with the housing of thecircuitry enclosure section 110 removed to reveal the relationship ofthe battery enclosure section 114 and the battery connector 208 to thecircuitry contained within the circuitry enclosure section 110. Acircuit board 310 is present and hosts circuitry 308 including variouscircuit elements. The circuitry further includes feedthrough conductors302 that pass signals from the circuit board 310 to the electricalconnectors within the header 112.

The circuit board 310 includes power terminals 304, 306 for receivingthe electrical power from the battery 209. The pin 228 of the batteryconnector 208 is present at the power terminal 304 while the pin 226 ofthe battery connector 208 is present at the power terminal 306. Thebattery connector 208, and hence the pins 226 and 228, has awell-defined position relative to the circuit board 310 due to thebattery connector 208 being affixed to the battery enclosure section 114in a precise location defined by the mounting protrusions 214, 216,which in turn is affixed to the circuitry enclosure section 110.Therefore, the pins 226 and 228 are necessarily in the proper positionto mate to the power terminals 306, 304 respectively, upon joining thebattery enclosure section 114 with the circuitry enclosure section 110.

To further aid in the pins 226, 228 engaging the power terminals 306,304 of the circuit board 310 which are holes in this example, the pins226, 228 may include tapered ends 402 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As canbe seen in FIG. 9, a taper 404 may be present on the top, with acorresponding taper on the bottom while a taper 406 may be present on aleft side with a corresponding taper 408 on a right side as shown inFIG. 10. The tapers 404, 406, 408 assist in guiding the pins 226, 228into the power terminal holes of the circuit board so that perfectalignment is not required.

The pins 226, 228 may be constructed of a metal that can be soldered orthat can be plated in a metal that can be soldered, such as gold. Thisallows the pins 226, 228 to be soldered to the power terminals 306, 304of the circuit board 310. In this way, the pins 226, 228 act as atransition metal where the battery terminal is constructed of a metalthat cannot be soldered.

FIG. 11 shows an example 500 of manufacturing steps that may beperformed to construct the battery enclosure section 114 and to completethe assembly of the implantable medical device. In the example of FIG.11, the battery enclosure portion 114 and circuitry enclosure portion110 are modular and therefore initially separate but are broughttogether during the manufacturing steps. It will be appreciated thatvarious aspects of the battery connector and related structures may alsoapply in other examples where the design is not modular, such as where asingle, unitary housing is present for both the battery 209 andcircuitry 308.

In this example of FIG. 11 where the enclosures are modular, the batteryconnector 208 is installed onto the shell 204 prior to the shell 204being joined to the shell 202 at an operation 502. This makesintroduction of the battery connector 208 relatively simple in that thebattery connector 208 may be aligned and then press-fit with the grooves230, 232 (FIG. 6) sliding onto the mounting protrusions 214, 216. As theshell 202 is not yet joined to the shell 204 and the battery 209 and cup211 are not yet placed in the shell 202, there is no interference withpositioning the battery connector 208.

The battery 209 is positioned within the cup 211 and the combination ofthe battery 209 and cup 211 are placed within the shell 204 at anoperation 504. The battery 209 is positioned such that the batteryterminal pin 218 is brought into alignment with the plate 224 and thebattery housing 210 contacts the plate 222. At this point the batteryconnector terminals including the plate 222 and the plate 224 are weldedto the battery housing 210 and the pin 218, respectively at an operation506. The other shell 202 may then be positioned over the exposed side ofthe cup 211 where the seam 206 may then be welded to bond the shell 202with the shell 204 and complete the battery enclosure section 114 at anoperation 508.

At this point, the battery enclosure section 114 may be joined with thecircuitry enclosure section 110 at an operation 510. The circuitryenclosure section 110 may already have the circuit board 310 installedsuch that the power terminals 304, 306 are present. As the batteryenclosure section 114 is brought together with the circuitry enclosuresection 110, the pins 226, 228 of the battery connector 208 are guidedto the corresponding power terminals 304, 306. A seam weld may then becreated at the junction 118 to bond the shells 202, 204 together withthe circuitry enclosure section 110.

At this point, an access panel may not yet be installed onto thecircuitry enclosure section 110 so that the opposite side of the circuitboard 310 from that shown in FIG. 8 may be accessed. This allows thepins 226, 228 to be soldered to the power terminals 304, 306 at anoperation 512. This panel may then be added, such as by welding thepanel in place on the circuitry enclosure section 110 at an operation514 where the panel is metal, to fully enclose the circuitry within thecircuitry enclosure section 110. Any other panels as well as the headersection 112 may be attached if not previously done to complete theimplantable medical device 102.

While embodiments have been particularly shown and described, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in theform and details may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An implantable medical device, comprising: afirst enclosure; a circuit board fixed within the first enclosure andhaving first and second power terminals; a second enclosure that iscoupled to the first enclosure and that comprises a first shell and asecond shell that are bonded together; a battery that has a batteryhousing, is positioned between the first shell and the second shell soas to be within the second enclosure, and has a battery terminal; and abattery connector positioned within the second enclosure and comprising:a battery connector body that is affixed directly to the first shell;and an electrical conductor affixed directly to the battery connectorbody, the electrical conductor being electrically coupled to the firstpower terminal and to the battery terminal.
 2. The implantable medicaldevice of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure includes an open top,wherein the battery connector body is affixed to the second enclosure atthe open top.
 3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein thebattery connector further comprises: a conductive plate that is coupledto the battery connector body and in contact with the battery housing;and a second electrical conductor affixed directly to the batteryconnector body, the second electrical conductor being electricallycoupled to the conductive plate and to the second power terminal.
 4. Theimplantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the first shell comprisesat least one mounting feature and wherein the battery connector body isaffixed directly to the at least one mounting feature.
 5. Theimplantable medical device of claim 4, wherein the at least one mountingfeature comprises multiple protrusions and wherein the battery connectorbody comprises multiple grooves that receive the multiple protrusions.6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond shells are constructed of a metal and wherein the first andsecond shells are welded together to form the second enclosure.
 7. Theimplantable medical device of claim 6, further comprising anon-conductive battery cup positioned within the second enclosure withthe battery being positioned within the non-conductive battery cup. 8.An implantable medical device, comprising: a device housing defining atleast one mounting protrusion; a circuit board fixed within the devicehousing and having first and second power terminals; a battery that hasa battery housing, is positioned within the device housing, and has abattery terminal, the at least one mounting protrusion beingelectrically isolated from the battery terminal; and a battery connectorpositioned within the device housing and comprising: a battery connectorbody that is affixed directly to the at least one mounting protrusion;at least one electrical conductor affixed directly to the batteryconnector body, the at least one electrical conductor being electricallycoupled to the first power terminal and to the battery terminal.
 9. Theimplantable medical device of claim 8, wherein the device housingcomprises: a first enclosure, wherein the circuit board is fixed withinthe first enclosure; and a second enclosure, wherein the secondenclosure has the at least one mounting protrusion and wherein thebattery is positioned within the second enclosure.
 10. The implantablemedical device of claim 9, wherein the second enclosure is positionedexternally of the first enclosure and the second enclosure abuts thefirst enclosure.
 11. The implantable medical device of claim 10, whereinthe second enclosure comprises a first shell bonded to a second shell.12. The implantable medical device of claim 8, wherein the batteryconnector body comprises at least one groove that receives the at leastone protrusion.
 13. The implantable medical device of claim 8, whereinthe battery connector further comprises: a conductive plate that iscoupled to the battery connector body and in contact with the batteryhousing; and a second electrical conductor affixed directly to thebattery connector body, the second electrical conductor beingelectrically coupled to the conductive plate and to the second powerterminal.
 14. An implantable medical device, comprising: a devicehousing; a circuit board fixed within the device housing and havingfirst and second power terminals; a battery that has a battery housing,is positioned within the device housing, and has a battery terminal; anda battery connector positioned within the device housing and comprising:a battery connector body that has at least one linear groove that isaffixed directly to the device housing; at least one electricalconductor affixed directly to the battery connector body, the at leastone electrical conductor being electrically coupled to the first powerterminal and to the battery terminal.
 15. The implantable medical deviceof claim 14, wherein the device housing comprises: a first enclosure,wherein the circuit board is fixed within the first enclosure; and asecond enclosure, wherein the battery is positioned within the secondenclosure.
 16. The implantable medical device of claim 15, wherein thesecond enclosure is positioned externally of the first enclosure and thesecond enclosure abuts the first enclosure.
 17. The implantable medicaldevice of claim 16, wherein the second enclosure comprises a first shellbonded to a second shell.
 18. The implantable medical device of claim14, wherein the device housing comprises at least one mounting featureand wherein the at least one linear groove receives the at least onemounting feature.
 19. The implantable medical device of claim 18,wherein the at least one mounting feature comprises at least oneprotrusion.
 20. The implantable medical device of claim 8, wherein thebattery connector further comprises: a conductive plate that is coupledto the battery connector body and in contact with the battery housing;and a second electrical conductor affixed directly to the batteryconnector body, the second electrical conductor being electricallycoupled to the conductive plate and to the second power terminal.
 21. Animplantable medical device, comprising: a device housing; a circuitboard fixed within the device housing and having first and second powerterminals; a battery that has a battery housing, is positioned withinthe device housing, and has a battery terminal; and a battery connectorpositioned within the device housing and comprising: a battery connectorbody that is affixed directly to the device housing; at least oneelectrical conductor affixed directly to the battery connector body, theat least one electrical conductor being electrically coupled to thefirst power terminal and to the battery terminal; a conductive platethat is coupled to the battery connector body and in contact with thebattery housing; and a second electrical conductor affixed directly tothe battery connector body, the second electrical conductor beingelectrically coupled to the conductive plate and to the second powerterminal.
 22. The implantable medical device of claim 21, wherein thedevice housing comprises: a first enclosure, wherein the circuit boardis fixed within the first enclosure; and a second enclosure, wherein thebattery is positioned within the second enclosure.
 23. The implantablemedical device of claim 22, wherein the second enclosure is positionedexternally of the first enclosure and the second enclosure abuts thefirst enclosure.
 24. The implantable medical device of claim 23, whereinthe second enclosure comprises a first shell bonded to a second shell.25. The implantable medical device of claim 21, wherein the devicehousing comprises at least one mounting feature and the batteryconnector body is affixed directly to the mounting feature.
 26. Animplantable medical device, comprising: a device housing; a circuitboard fixed within the device housing and having first and second powerterminals; a battery that has a battery housing, is positioned withinthe device housing, and has a battery terminal; and a battery connectorpositioned within the device housing and comprising: a battery connectorbody that is affixed directly to the device housing; and at least oneelectrical conductor affixed directly to the battery connector body, theat least one electrical conductor being electrically coupled to thebattery terminal and having a portion that forms a conductive pin thatextends beyond the battery connector body and electrically couples tothe first power terminal.
 27. The implantable medical device of claim26, wherein the pin has an end that has multiple opposing sloped sides,the end engaging the first power terminal.
 28. The implantable medicaldevice of claim 26, wherein the device housing comprises: a firstenclosure, wherein the circuit board is fixed within the firstenclosure; and a second enclosure, wherein the battery is positionedwithin the second enclosure.
 29. The implantable medical device of claim28, wherein the second enclosure is positioned externally of the firstenclosure and the second enclosure abuts the first enclosure.
 30. Theimplantable medical device of claim 29, wherein the second enclosurecomprises a first shell bonded to a second shell.
 31. The implantablemedical device of claim 26, wherein the device housing comprises atleast one mounting feature and the battery connector body is affixeddirectly to the at least one mounting feature.
 32. The implantablemedical device of claim 26, wherein the battery connector furthercomprises: a conductive plate that is coupled to the battery connectorbody and in contact with the battery housing; and a second electricalconductor affixed directly to the battery connector body, the secondelectrical conductor being electrically coupled to the conductive plateand to the second power terminal.
 33. The implantable medical device ofclaim 32, wherein the battery connector has a portion that forms asecond conductive pin that extends beyond the battery connector body andelectrically couples to the second power terminal;
 34. The implantablemedical device of claim 33, wherein the second pin has an end that hasmultiple opposing sloped sides, the end of the second pin engaging thesecond power terminal.